Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-11-18

weeks. Curtis and the Queen did not oft
on meet. and exercised the utmost caution
not to allow the true relation in which they
stood to each other TO leak out; but do
what they would, rumors "a hard TO trace
as n buzzing fly in dark room, and yet
quite as audible, begun to hum round and
round. and at last to settle on her throne.
CHAPTER XViI.-THE STORM BREAKS.
And now IL was that the trouble, which
mt first had been but cloud rs large as a
mans hand, began TO loom very black and
big upon our horizon; namely, Sorais' pre-
ference for Sir Henry. ! saw the storm
drawing nearer and nearer; and so, poor
fellow. did he. The affection of so lovely
and highly-placed Il woman was not a
thing that could in n general way be con-
sidcred calamity by any man: but, stu
atcd rs Curtis was, it was grieyous bur
den to bear.
To begin with, Nylcptha, though alto
cethcr charming, was it must be admitted,
of n rather Jealous disposition and was
somewhat apt to visit on her lovers head
her Indignation Mt the marks of what Al
phonse would have called the distinguish
cd consideration" with which her royal
secrecy Of his relation to Nylcptha prevent
ell Curtis from taking some opportunity OF
putting a stop, or trying to put n stop, to
this false condition OF affairs, by telling
Sorais. in casual but confidential way,
that hc was going to marry her sister.
third stin in Sir Ienry's honey WAS that
he knew that Good was honestly and sin
ccroly attached 10 tie misunderstanding,
hat most attractive. Lady OF the Night.
Indeed. poor BDuyWan was wasting him
self 10 n shadow Of his fitt and jolly self
about her, his face getting 50 thin tIHt .Ei
ovc-glq4s wont! srarceIy stin< in l.: whiir
abe, with n sort OF careless cOquetrv, just
gave him announcement enough 10 keep
him going, thinking. no doubt that lac
might be useful aE Il Stalking-nurSr.
tried TO give him hint, in rs delicate n
way rs could; but he flew into a huii md
would not listen Ia me. so determined to
let Ill alone. for fear OF making Il worse.
Poor Good he really was very lnhicrpuS in
his distress, and went in for all sorts OF alb
surditirs under the belief that he WAS all
vHncing his suit One OF them WIS the
wTiting-with the assistance Of one of the
grave and reverend sciGuiurs whuiHStruCt-
ed MS and who. ~ hItcvpr NAV have been
the measure of his e ulitiOu. did not un-
derstand how to sean line-Of most in
tcrminablc IN NcHdi lOvc-sOng Of which
the continually recurring refrain was
something about, Il will kiss thee Oh Yes,
] Will kiss thce' Now. anrng tie Xu-
Nrndi it Is u common and most harmless
thing for Young men 10 Sprenalc latlics at
might, rs believe they do IN the southern
countries Of Europe. and sing nl sor.s Of
nUnsrusicIl SONGS To them The Young
men may or may not he serious: but no Of
Tense Is meant and none is taken, even by
lHd.c1 Of the highest rank. who accept the
tlt4 La Fyfg I. IL
Gracefully turned compliment
Awaiting himself of this custom, Good
hcihuught him that he would scrrrade
Sornis, whose private apartments, together
with those Of her mnidenS. were exactly
opposite our own, on the further side OF
I'll" narrow courtyard which divided one
section OF the great palace from another
Accordingly, having armed himself with Il
natly" either, on which, being an ulrpt
with the light guitar no had easily learned
To strun. he proceeded mt midnight, the
fashionable hour for this sort of cater
WaultnG Ia make night hidcous with his
amOrUus ycllS. ! was fast asleep when
they began, but they soon woke mo up
for Good possesses tremendous voice and
has no notion Of timc-and | ran 10 my
window place to see what was the matter.
And there, standing in the full moonlight
In the court yard, perceived Good, adOrn-
eel with I'M enormous ostrich feather head
IL the right thing to wear upon these coca
sious, and shouting out tho uhominable
song. which he and the old gentleman had
evolved, To u jcrky, juggling accompani-
mcnt From the direction of the quarters
of the maids of honor came u succession Of
faint sniggcrngs; but the apartments of
Surais hcrsclf-whOm dcvoutly pitied If
she happened To he thcrc--wCre silent rs
the crave. There was absolutely no end
To that awful song, with its eternal, 81 will
Kiss thCcl and Mt last neither ! nor Sir
Henry, whom | had summoned To enjoy
the sight. could stand il any longer; So
put my head to the window opening, and
shtslted ''For Heavens sake. Good. don't
go on talking about It. but Kiss her and
let's all 70 to sleep" That chokcd him of
and we had no more scrcnadjng.
The whole hing formed a lnughahle in
Cidcnt in Il tragic business. How deeply
thankful We ought TO he that even the
most serious matters have generally u sill
Ncr lining about them in the shape of II
joke, if only people could Sccit The sense
OF humor Is very valuable possession in
life, aud ought To- be cultivated in the Board
schools especially in Scotland.
Well, the more Sir Henry held or the
moro SuraiS came on, as Is not uncommon
in such eases, till mt last things got very
queer indeed Evidently she was, hv some,
strange prryrrsity of mind, quite hl!ndrd
Co the true state Of the case; and l. Tor rur,
cning Suritis was a dangerous woman To
lie mixed up with, either with ur without
ones own consent. At last the evil mo-
mCut came, as | SAW il must CONF tiHr
uuc day, Good having gone ont haWh,n.r,
Sir Henry and We're sitting uui'tl, taIk-
ing over the situation, rSpCCiGlit With RI
ler'nCr Ia Suras, when court uc~-rn e."
arrived with written note, whir:, vita
some difficulty dGCiphrrcd, and Nliirl, Nu>
To the elect that the Queen SurIt~ CON
mandcd the attendance oc the lord Incuhu
III her private apartments whittier Ee
would he conducted by the hcurrr"
oh. my wurdw groancd Sir Henry.
Can't You 20 inStcnd. old fellow"
Not il know il. = said with viror. II
had rather face wounded elephant with
n shotgun. Wash up Nnur own dirty
dishes. my boy. IL you viii he so faScinat-
INK You must take the cn"oenr"nces.
Amt Sou just in for It now, that's NJ
You remind me Of when was going To
be logged ut school and the other bows
came to console me-" he said, gloomily.
NV hat right has this COMPOUNDED queen
to command my attendance, should like
to know | won't go"
But You must you are one of her OH
GERS and bound 70 obey her and she knows
II. Aud after all II will soon he over"
That's just what they used Ia say" he
said again. Il only hope she wont put
Knife into me. | believe that she is quite
capable OF it," And OF he started very
faint -hcartcdlv and no wonder.
sat and waited. and ut the end of about
forty-itve minutes he returned, looking Il
great deal worse than when he went. |
asked what was the matter.
Nv ha~ is the matter? Why, tho fat IS
all In the fire, il ever fat was. You know
when | left yous We'll | was shown
straight into Soras' private chamber and
wonderful place il is: aud there she sat,
quite alone, upon n silkcn couch at the end
Of the room, playing gently upon that III
thcr Of hers. l stood before her, and for a
while she took no notice OF me, but kept
ON playing and singing little, and very
sweet music 1t was. At last she looked up
and smiled
SO thou art come she said. Thought
that perchance thou hadst gone about the
Queen Nyleptha's business. Thou art ever
on her business. and doubt not n good
servant and true
To this | merely bowed, and said was
there to receive the Queens word.
All, YES. would talk with thee, but
he thou seated. | cannot lift my eek so
high and she made room for me beside
her on the couch, placing herself with her
back against the end, SO rs to have a view
of ny face.
make myself equal with the Queen
II said be seated was her answer; so I
sat down, and she set To work to look at
me with those dark eyes Of hers. till be-
gan to feel rs though | were being mes
merized. There she sat. like an incaruate
spirit of beauty, hardly talking at all, and
when she did, very low, but all the while
looking at me, There was a white flower
in her black hair. and tried to keep my
eyes on ii and count the petals; but it was
no use. At last, whether Il was her gaze.
or the nerfump ON her hair or what don't